Multiple-fuse cut-out



(No Model.)

A. W. JONES. MULTIPLE FUSE CUT-OUT.

No. 450,159. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

Hw 0 .1.1i 4 F15* l lf GD 0 a @HK ((mumwn d4 Y 11111.11//43.1%.im 7/////////////////////// ),')211?" WITNEyS: INVENTOR:

www w. w www-*ww ATTYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR SV. .I ONES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

MULTIPLE-FUSE CUT-OUT.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,159, dated April 14, 1891.

Application led December 6, 1890. Serial No. 373,783. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR IV. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Sufolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Multiple-Fuse Cut- Outs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a multiple-fuse cutout box in which are combined a series of fusible cut-out strips so arranged in relation to movable and fixed contacts that the fusible strips may be successively brought into circuit as they are required.

My invention consists in constructing such a multiple-fuse cut-out with a pair of stationary contacts and a series of movable contacts adapted to be brought successively in contact with the stationary contacts and a continuous strip of fusible metal secured to the saidseries of movable contacts so that the said continuons strip is divided by said series of contacts into a series of electrically separate fuses.

My invention further consists in combining with a multiple fuse having` a pair of stationary contacts and a series of movable contacts with interconnecting safety-fuses of a blow-out magnet or other means for breaking the arc located between or in proximity to the said stationary contacts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a plan view of my improved cutout box; Fig. 2, a section of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the construction of the stationary contacts with one of the movable contacts bearing thereon.

A represents a box which is preferably made of iron, and may be lined with iireproof insulating` material a, such as asbestus, plaster, or mica.

B I3 are the stationary contacts connected by the wires C with outside binding-posts D D.

E represents a continuous strip of fusewire, and F a series of spring-clips in which said fuse-wire may be easily clamped. The clips are made of two pieces of spring copper or brass and are mounted upon spokes G of metal, which are secured to a hub H of insu lating material rotatable upon or with a spindie I. The spokes G form movable contacts adapted to successively connect with the stationary contacts D D, the space between two adjacent spokes being equal to the distance between the stationary contacts.

It will be seen that when the fuse-wire is in place and a pair of the movable contacts are brought into connection with the stationary contacts that part of the fuse-wire between such contacts will be in circuit, and in case of an undue increase in current this part, and this part only, of the fuse-wire will be ruptured. It is only necessary then to move the fuse-carrier, so as to bring the next pair of contacts thereupon into connection with the stationary contacts in order to throw a new section of fuse into circuit. By using a continuous strip of fusewire for making two or more electrically separate fuses I am enabled to make the operation of renewing the fuse much simpler and easier, as heretofore such fuses have been not only electrically but mechanically separate. I prefer to make the clips with a slet at c, so that by the insertion of a sharp-pointed tool the ends of the fuse-wire that remain after the fuse has blown may be easily ejected through the clips.

K represents an electro-magnet connected in the main circuit, as shown. This magnet is located so as to present its pole to that part of the fuse which is in circuit, so that it will act to rupture the arc that is formed upon the blowing of the fuse. The spindle I pro jects through the ends, as shown, and has a square end at fi, over which a key Ii is adapted to fit for the purpose of turning the fuse-carrier from the outside.

Then all the sections of the fuse-wire are used up,thcre will be found a small piece remaining in each of the clips. These may be easily ejected bya nail or other pointed tool, and a new strip of fuse-wire may then be strung through the clips, and the apparatus thus put in condition for additional service.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Paten t, is-

l. A safety-fuse apparatus comprising a pair of iixed contacts, a fuse-carrier having movable contacts co-operating with said iiXed contacts and provided with a manual operating device, and a continuous strip or wire of IOO ries of movable contacts, and a continuous strip of fusible metal attached to the said movable contacts, so as to be divided by said movable contacts into two or more independent sections, the space between any pair of adjacent movable contacts being equal to the space between the stationary contacts.

4. The combination, in a multiple fuse, of

a pair of stationary contacts, and a series of movable contacts provided with springclips, with a continuous strip of fusible metal clamped within the spring-clips and making.

electrical connection between the series of movable contacts.

5. The combination, in a multiple-fuse apparatus, of a pair o f stationary contacts, a series of movable contacts adapted to make successive connections with the stationary contacts in pairs, a series of fusible connections between said movable contacts, and a device for rupturing the arc located between or adjacent to the stationary contacts, so-as toA operate only upon that section of the fuse which is in circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 4th day of December, 1890.

ARTHUR W. JONES. Witnesses:

W. H. KNIGHT, Guo. R. BLODGETT. 

